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Waters in north Georgia are cited in half the entries in “Georgia’s Dirty Dozen,” a list of 12 offenses to the state’s waters compiled by the Georgia Water Coalition.

“Georgia’s Dirty Dozen – 2012″ was issued by the Georgia Water Coalition

The report cites five specific waters in north Georgia that are troubled, and includes a sixth, which is a project in Gov. Nathan Deal’s Governor’s Water Supply Program.

Water advocates used the report’s release to criticize Georgia for environmental protection efforts it characterized as weak. The comments echo some made of President Obama’s interest and current focus on the environment.

The following are snippets of the No. 1 offender in Georgia, the Ogeechee River, followed by the six waters in north Georgia that were cited by the Georgia Water Coalition.

“Ogeechee River: One year after the largest fish kill in state history, pollution continues – Long-time river users no longer fish the river, riverfront property values have declined and the Ogeechee fishery is still recovering – despite a state-financed re-stocking program.

“Flat Creek: Hall County’s proposed $95 million Glades Reservoir on Flat Creek which flows into the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier … would divert and impound water that would otherwise fill Lake Lanier.

“Flint River: Governor’s Water Supply Program – Two projects proposed by Deal supporters received $9 million in direct state investment (funds not requiring reimbursement to the state), including an experimental groundwater injection experiment on the Flint River and a well for Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority.

“Chattahoochee River: State fails to ensure minimum flows at Atlanta.”

The expansion of Plant Vogtle threatens the health of the Savannah River, according to the Georgia Water Coalition. Credit: Georgia Water Coalition

The report and press release attempt to place the water problems in the context of a state government the coalitions sees as less than supportive of the state’s environment.

“The Deal Administration’s appointments and actions suggest that enforcing environmental laws are not a priority,” Joe Cook, executive director and riverkeeper with the Rome-based Coosa River Basin Initiative, said in a statement released with the “Dirty Dozen” report. “Track the money divvied out in Gov. Deal’s new water supply program and you get further clarity about this administration’s priorities and allegiances.”

“The $102 million that Gov. Deal directed to questionable and environmentally destructive water supply projects this year is more than three times the $30 million in state dollars invested by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority in water conservation and efficiency projects from 2006-2010,” Sally Bethea, executive director of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, said in the same statement.

Obama has come under fire for saying last week that job creation and the economy can’t take a back seat to global warming. That disappointment was expressed after the Sierra Club supported Obama over Romney, despite regrets over Obama’s failure to get a cap-and-trade bill through Congress.

In addition, Obama has been criticized for appointing former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as the nation’s agriculture secretary because of Vilsack’s relation with Monsanto and other elements of the food industry.

Some environmentalists have expressed frustration over the state of affairs with the nation’s efforts to protect the environment.

“It’s been very difficult for Congress to do practically anything constructive in the past four years,” Karl Coplan, a law professor at Pace University in New York, said during an Oct. 17 press call to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.

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David Pendered, Managing Editor, is an Atlanta journalist with nearly 30 years experience reporting on the region’s urban affairs, from Atlanta City Hall to the state Capitol. Since 2008, he has written for print and digital publications, and advised on media and governmental affairs. Previously, he spent more than 26 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and won awards for his coverage of schools and urban development. David graduated from North Carolina State University and was a Western Knight Center Fellow. David was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in North Carolina and is married to a fifth-generation Atlantan.